Suspension clip



R. B. JENSEN 3,302,261

SUSPENSION CLIP Feb. 7, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1965 INVENTOR BY 4& 1%fl a ATTORNEYS R. B. JENSEN SUSPENSION CLIP Feb. 7, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1965 INVENTOR zj/ l [7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent l 9 Claims. (c1. 24-246) This invention relates to fastening devices and more particularly to clips for the gripping, suspension, or securement of fabric or textile articles such as clothing, napkins, toweling, or the like.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved clip of the type described which is easy and economical to make and use, and which is susceptible of being manufactured in several different embodiments within the generic principles of the invention.

The invention in its preferred embodiments contemplates the provision of a substantially annular frame portion having a chordal member normally extending more or less directly across an arcuate section of the annular frame in such a manner as to form a laterally extending slit to receive a portion of the fabric article to be retained. To more readily admit the portion of the article, the clip is adapted to be compressed by application of manual pressure to both ends of the chord, this causing the chordal member and that section of the frame subtended thereby to bend or bow and thus to cause the slit to widen or expand to a somewhat oval configuration. Then the corner or other portion of the textile or fabric article may be readily inserted, and when pressure is released the relativelyflexible elastic clip will return toward its original shape so that the article is securely clamped within the slit, with the elimination of any complicated insertion of the article as in prior devices.

Thus, by means of the invention, a novel clip is provided which replaces in a very simple and effective way the loops or rings which are frequently secured to towels, for instance, which permanently secured loops increase the work and costs incidental to attaching one or more of them to each article, and also in requiring special attention to the loops or rings when ironing or folding the fabric articles.

' Within the particular purposes of the invention and by virtue of the characteristics of the material used in the clip, novel qualities may be obtained by variously shaping the chord and the segment of the annular frame with respect to each other. Thus for the purpose of facilitating the compression of the clip prior to the insertion of the textile article, it may be convenient to make the chord-shaped portion extend along a curved line and possibly with a greater radius of curvature than that of the corresponding peripheral segmental portion of the frame so that the slit between the chord and the frame segment even in relaxed idle condition is of somewhat greater width near the center of the chord, thus affording a slightly wider opening for the insertion of the article.

Also for similar purposes, the chord member may also be extended along a line which is curved relatively to the mean plane of the clip frame.

The strength of the clip and the clamping force on the article may also be influenced by the suitable shaping of the cross section of the chord-shaped portion. Thus, it may be convenient to make the chordal portion of a slightly smaller width than the frame segment in the plane extending at right angles to the plane of the clip, and/or of a greater width than the segmental portion in the actual plane of the clip.

For the purpose of further increasing the clamping effect of the clip, it may be desired to provide the chordshaped portion with a central transversely extending pro- 3,302,26l Patented Feb. 7, 1967 jection with a free end extending diametrically within the annular frame and provided at its free end with an enlargement which is so dimensioned and shaped that, when the projection is sprung, curved or folded back upon itself, it may from a press-stud joint in cooperation with the slit between the chord-shaped portion and the corresponding ring segment.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in front elevation of a clip representing one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical central section taken on line 3--3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view in elevation similar to FIGURE 1 of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of a third form of the invention in which teeth or serrations are formed on the chord and the subtended portion of the frame;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a view in front elevation of a fourth form of the invention in which is incorporated a pressstud joint;

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 1010 of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE l1 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIGURE 9.

Referring now to the first embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the annular frame of the clip is designated by the numeral 10 and com prises the arched lateral portions 11 and 12 and the base segmental portion 13, the whole representing a somewhat ovate configuration. Of course, the over-all shape of the clip may be varied say, for example, all the way from circular to substantially triangular, the important feature "being the annular nature of the clip and the provision of a base segment which is subtended by a chordal member such as suggested in this embodiment at 15.

The rounded upper portion 16 of the frame is of course 7 adapted to be either suspended from a hook or a nail, or

from any other suspension means such as a strap, a tape, or a portion of a garment.

The chordal member 15 is spaced from the segmental portion 13 to provide a relatively narrow slit 20. In this particular embodiment the chordal member 15 is warped to position the greater portion thereof in a vertical plane substantially coinciding with one edge of the ring, and being disposed approximately at right angles to the plane of the segmental portion 13. Bent end portions 21 serve to connect the ends of the chord member 15 with the lower portions of the sides 11 and 12 of the annulus 10.

The frame of the clip is made of flexible elastic material, for example, a plastic of such mechanical properties that if the clip is subjected to inward pressure adjacentthe chordal portion as,'for example, in the direction of the arrows 25, the lower portion of the clip is compressed and at the same time the slit 20 will be spread to increase the width of the slit 20 for the entrance of a portion of an article of clothing'such as a coat or jacket, the corner portion of a towel or napkin, whereupon when the pressure is released, the frame will tend to return to its original shape and thereby clamp the textile article so that the whole may be suspended by means of the upper loop portion 16 of the clip. It will be readily understood that reapplication of the inward pressure will again warp the portions 13 and 15, widen the slot 20, and release the article.

It will be understood that in this embodiment the warping of the portions 13 and 15 may take place in different ways depending upon the specific point of application of the pressure. The segmental portion 13 will undoubted- 1y bend in a downward direction, :but the chordal member 15 may bend laterally away from the plane of the frame of the clip or in any other direction to widen the gap at 20.

The clip comprising the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 differs slightly from the one illustrated in the first three figures in that the annular frame is narrowed slightly and more ovate in configuration, the subtended bottom segment 33 being of a smaller radius of curvature than the segmental portion 13 of the first embodiment, and the chordal member 35 having a somewhat greater radius of curvature than the segment 33, thus providing a slit of a somewhat greater depth in its middle section so as to be more adapted for the insertion of an article of larger dimensions. Also, the attaching webs 41 for the chord 35 adjacent the side portions 31 and 32 are much longer in a vertical direction and thus the over-all strength of the clip is increased. Also, as will be noted from FIGURES 5 and 6, the chordal member 35 projects to a somewhat greater distance from the general plane of the frame of the clip.

Now considering FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that there is provided a clip frame of somewhat similar proportions to the one shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings and having a segmental portion 53 and a chordal portion 55 each provided with approximately rectangular tooth portions 57 and 58 which of course increase the ability of the clip to retain the article within the opening 60 between the cross members 53 and 55.

In FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings there is shown a clip having the general designation and which includes the frame having the curved upper portion 76 and the side portions 71 and 72. The traverse base segment portion 73 may have a fairly gentle curvature similar to the segment 13 of FIGURE 1, and the chordal element 75 extends across the device forming a space between the segment and the chord for the entry of the fabric.

In this case, however, a press-stud feature is provided by forming an upward extension or arm 81 on the medial portion of the chordal member 75, which extension extends diametrically of the frame of the clip and terminates in an intermediate portion of the arch formed by the portions 71,, 72 and 76. At this point it is provided with a right-angle stud 82 which terminates in a button-shaped head 85.

In operation, this clip is manipulated as follows: The extension or arm 81 is bent to a curvature suggested at 81' in FIGURE 11 of the drawings and the stud 82 with its head 85 arrive at the positions shown respectively at 82. and 85', where the head has been enveloped by a portion of a piece of fabric 91 and has been pushed through the slit '80 by the widening of the slit under the inward lateral pressure exerted as in the case of the other embodiments of the invention. Upon the return of the clamping parts to relaxed position upon release of the lateral pressure, they will assume the position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 11 where the fabric is firmly clamped within the slit 80 and around the head 85 of the stud 82. The stud 82 of course is of a very slightly smaller diameter than the central width of the slit 80 so as to effectively clamp the mate-rial.

Very obviously, the stud portions of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 9-11 may be adapted to frame, chord, and sector configurations of widely varying types such as, for example, those shown in FIGURES l, 4 and 7 of the 4 drawings, or others within the contemplation of those skilled in the art.

It is understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments illustrated and describe-d herein without departing from the scope of the invention as determined by the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A clip for the suspension or attachment of a 'fabric article or the like comprising, in combination, an integral permanently continuous annular frame forming the basic peripheral structure of the clip and a chord-forming member having its ends rigidly fixed to spaced portions of said frame, said member extending across said frame near an edge thereof and defining, together with the adjacent subtended arcuate segmental portion of the annular frame, a permanently open slit within which a portion of a fabric article can be gripped; said clip being of only slightly flexible material, whereby said chord-forming member and said subtended segmental portion of the annular frame may be sprung apart to a slight degree only suflicient for the retention of the inserted fabric by inwardly directed pressure applied to opposite sides of the frame.

2. The clip as set forth in claim 1 in which the rigidly connected chord-forming member is bowed along its length within the general plane of the frame.

3. The clip as set forth in claim 2 in which the rigidly connected chord-forming member is bowed in the opposite direction to the curvature of the subtended segmental portion of the frame to form a generally lenticular slit.

4. The clip as set forth in claim 3 in which the rigidly connected chord-forming member and the subtended segmental portion of the frame are each provided with a series of dentate projections, said projections extending inwardly of the slit.

5. The clip as set forth in claim 2 in which said rigidly connected chord-forming member is bowed in the same direction as the curvature of the subtended frame segment to form a substantially lunate slit.

6. The clip as set forth in claim 5 in which the radius of curvature of said rigidly connected chord-forming member is greater than that of the subtended segmental portion of the frame.

7. The :clip as set forth in claim 1 in which the rigidly connected chord-forming member is bowed along its length in a plane at right angles to the plane of the frame.

8. The clip as set forth in claim 1 in which the rigidly connected chord-forming member is of less width in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame than that of the subtended segmental portion.

9. The clip as set forth in claim 1 in which the rigidly connected chord-forming member is provided with a bar extending substantially within the plane of the frame from approximately the midpoint of the member to the approximate center of the annular frame, a stem extending from the end of said bar in a direction at right angles to the plane of the frame and terminating in a button-like head, whereby said bar may be flexed through an angle of approximately and the head of the stem engaged with a piece of fabric to be attached or supported, and thrust through the slit when the latter is sprung to expanded condition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 921,690 5/1909 Prick 24--9 1,237,564 8/1917 Seydel 24--7 2,948,035 8/ 1960 McCarthy 24-9 3,160,937 12/1964 Nickason 24263 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

D. GRIFFIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CLIP FOR THE SUSPENSION OR ATTACHMENT OF A FABRIC ARTICLE OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN INTEGRAL PERMANENTLY CONTINUOUS ANNULAR FRAME FORMING THE BASIC PERIPHERAL STRUCTURE OF THE CLIP AND A CHORD-FORMING MEMBER HAVING ITS END RIGIDLY FIXED TO SPACED PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME, SAID MEMBER EXTENDING ACROSS SAID FRAME NEAR AN EDGE THEREOF AND DEFINING, TOGETHER WITH THE ADJACENT SUBTENDED ARCUATE SEGMENTAL PORTION OF THE ANNULAR FRAME, A PERMANENTLY OPEN SLIT WITHIN WHICH A PORTION OF A FABRIC ARTICLE CAN BE GRIPPED; SAID CLIP BEING OF ONLY SLIGHTLY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, WHEREBY SAID CHORD-FORMING MEMBER AND SAID SUBTENDED SEGMENTAL PORTION OF THE ANNULAR FRAME MAY BE SPRUNG APART TO A SLIGHT DEGREE ONLY SUFFICIENT FOR THE RETENTION OF THE INSERTED FABRIC BY INWARDLY DIRECTED PRESSURE APPLIED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FRAME. 